THE OECD PROGRAM ON ADVERSE OUTCOME PATHWAYS (AOP) WC-9 Satellite meeting AOP 101 24 August 2014 Anne Gourmelon Principal Administrator OECD Test Guidelines Programme Environmental, Health and Safety Division
Launch of the Programme at OECD The AOP Development Programme was launched at OECD in 2012, under the umbrella of the Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (Programme on Chemical Safety). AOPs are a central concept in future work at OECD on predictive toxicology, improving uses and applications of mechanistic information for both future testing and assessment needs. Several OECD groups are involved, interdisciplinary nature of the work
The Adverse Outcome Pathways concept AOPs delineate the documented, plausible, and testable processes by which a chemical induces molecular perturbations (Molecular Initiating Events) and the associated biological responses (Key Events) that describe how the molecular perturbations cause effects at the subcellular, cellular, tissue, organ, whole animal, and population levels of observation. Toxicant Molecular Interactions Cellular Responses Organ Responses Organism Responses Population Responses Chemical Properties Receptor/Ligand Interaction DNA Binding Protein Oxidation Gene activation Protein production Altered signaling Altered physiology Disrupted homeostasis Altered tissue development/ function Lethality Impaired Development Impaired Reproduction Structure Extinction
AOP for skin sensitisation Chemical Structure & Properties Molecular Initiating Event Cellular Response Organ Response Organism Response Metabolism Penetration Electrophilic substance Key Event 1 Covalent interaction with skin proteins Key Event 3 Dendritic Cells (DCs) Induction of inflammatory cytokines and surface molecules Mobilisation of DCs Key Event 2 Keratinocyte responses Activation of inflammatory cytokines Induction of cytoprotective genes Key Event 4 T-cell proliferation Histocompatibility complex presentation by DCs Activation of T cells Proliferation of activated T-cells Adverse Outcome Inflammation upon challenge with allergen The Adverse Outcome Pathway for Skin Sensitisation Initiated by Covalent Binding to Proteins; Part 1: Scientific Evidence Series on Testing and Assessment No.168 ENV/JM/MONO(2012)10/PART1 4
Mapping alternative methods to key events Chemical Structure & Properties Molecular Initiating Event Cellular Response Organ Response Organism Response Metabolism Penetration Electrophilic substance Key Event 1 Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) QSARs Key Event 3 Dendritic Cells (DCs) human Cell Line Activation Test (h-clat) Mobilisation of DCs Key Event 2 Keratinocyte responses Activation of inflammatory cytokines KeratinoSens Key Event 4 T-cell proliferation Histocompatibility complexes presentation by DCs Activation of T cells Proliferation of activated T-cells Adverse Outcome Inflammation upon challenge with allergen 5
AOP Development Programme: an horizontal activity at OECD The OECD programme on the development of AOPs addresses the needs of: the OECD Test Guidelines Programme for the identification of new in vitro test methods that are candidates to become OECD Test Guidelines; The OECD QSAR Project for the identification of new methods/profilers for grouping chemicals; the OECD Hazard Assessment activities for the development of IATAs for defined hazard endpoints. 6
Application of the AOP concept to support grouping of chemicals As the MIE in each AOP involves a rather specific interaction of chemicals with biological systems, it can be used as the basis for generating structure activity relationships, whether or not quantifiable. In turn, such information can be used for chemical grouping and read-across approaches, thus facilitating predictive and mechanism-based toxicology 7
Relevant documentation published at OECD Template format for project proposals Guidance document on developing and assessing AOP (2013), No. 184 Series Testing and Assessment User handbook (more practical and wikioriented than the guidance, under preparation)
Functioning of the AOP Development Programme at OECD The OECD Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (EAGMST) is a large group of experts from various areas of toxicology. Experts are designated by governmental or nongovernmental affiliations (academia, agencies, industry, animal welfare groups, scientific societies, etc.) The EAGMST meets once a year before summer and holds a teleconference, usually in December to keep pace with new developments. 9
Functioning of the AOP Development Programme at OECD Project proposals to develop new AOPs can be made by members of EAGMST or the public (academia, scientific societies, industry groups, etc.) Project proposals can be submitted any time of the year to the Secretariat who makes them available to the EAGMST for their review. The AOP Development Programme maintains a rolling work plan, updated twice a year with new project proposals and new information on existing projects. Twice a year, project proposals are reviewed and included in the work plan if justified and in line with the objectives of the Programme.
Where can I find relevant information? A public web-page provides summary information to the public on the AOP development programme, including titles of AOP on the workplan and lead organisations/countries, relevant templates for making proposals, guidance on how to develop AOPs, etc. [http://www.oecd.org/env/ehs/testing/adverse -outcome-pathways-molecular-screening-andtoxicogenomics.htm]
Where can AOPs under development be found? A wiki-based interface has been developed to enable AOP description (MIE, KE, KER, AO) http://aopwiki.org see Kristie Sullivan s presentation The AOP wiki will be publicly launched by end of September 2014 All AOPs should be considered at this stage as drafts under development
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Status of AOPs developed at OECD AOPs are scientific descriptive documents depicting interactions, events, outcome, etc.: as such, they have no regulatory implication AOP can be developed in parallel of scientific publications (OECD work does not preclude scientists to publish in the literature) AOPs can be seen as continuously developing, and OECD-agreed versions of AOPs can evolve as science progresses
Conclusions and take home messages AOP Development Programme is evolving fast with participation of multiple groups of experts in various areas of toxicology The public can make project proposals to develop AOPs (published guidance for users) AOPwiki soon publicly available (end Sept. 2014) to enable crowd-sourcing
Thank you for listening on a Sunday morning! anne.gourmelon@oecd.org